AFROC is a national membership organization founded in 1987 to promote the interests of freestanding radiation oncology centers. It is comprised of a network of physicians, physicists, administrators, and allied health care professionals involved with freestanding centers.

AFROC promotes cost-effective treatment within the context of the highest standard of care. The organization focuses upon regulatory, legislative, and socioeconomic issues that affect nonhospital-based cancer therapy centers.

AFROC is the premier forum addressing private-practice issues unique to freestanding centers. These issues include equitable reimbursement by governmental agencies and third-party payers and monitoring legislative and regulatory policy proposals that may affect non-hospital-based cancer therapy centers. In addition, it promotes cost effective treatment within the context of the highest standard of care.

AFROC was successful in its efforts to establish appropriate reimbursement for IMRT in freestanding centers, and successfully reversed a 35 percent reduction in Medicare payment for IMRT that was proposed for 2004. In addition, our recent agenda includes: the following:

• Continuing a leadership role in maintaining or increasing Medicare payment for radiation oncology technical component services
• Focusing congressional and CMS attention on the lack of Medicare payment for radiation treatment services provided by freestanding centers to skilled nursing facility (SNF patients)
• Promoting outpatient prostate seed-implant reimbursement
• Conducting a practice-expense survey to ensure appropriate payment for radiation oncology technical component services in anticipation of changes in the Medicare Fee Schedule in 2006 and beyond
• Continuing to monitor revisions of payment policies that affect radiation oncology under the Physician Fee Schedule

From news reports:

Yesterday the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3961, the "Medicare Physician Payment Act of 2009," by a vote of 243-183. (All but one Republican legislator voted against the bill, which passed 243-183). To see how your representative voted, follow this link: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll909.xml

In addition to permanently repealing the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, the legislation will cancel the 21.2 percent cut to Medicare physician payments scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. The bill will provide physicians with an increase in 2010 equivalent to the Medicare Economic Index, which will be 1.2 percent. In 2011 and beyond, Medicare physician payments will be based on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) plus 2 percent for evaluation and management and preventive services, and GDP plus 1 percent for all other services. These service categories would apply without regard to the specialty of the physician providing the service.

Action on this legislation now moves to the Senate. Please be sure to contact your senators to urge them to pass legislation that permanently repeals the SGR. The 21.2 percent cut scheduled for January 1, 2010 will take effect unless Congress acts. If you are not sure whom to contact, follow this link to determine your U.S. Senators: click here.